Dehradun: A police horse was allegedly attacked by the
BJP’s Mussoorie MLA, Ganesh Joshi, during a protest in Dehradun on Monday
afternoon. The animal suffered multiple fractures during the incident near the
Vidhan Sabha which occurred during a protest called by the BJP against the
state government. The injured horse was immediately rushed to the district
veterinary officer for treatment.

According to sources, doctors have told the police
that the horse’s leg may have to be amputated. Police have also sought opinion
from doctors at the Indian Military Academy’s Veterinary Hospital.

Dehradun SSP SR Date said doctors had ruled out early
recovery due to multiple fractures in the animal’s rear leg. In the evening,
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat visited the city’s reserve police lines
to check on the horse’s condition.

The animal suffered injury on his leg and was taken to
the hospital. ANI photo The animal suffered injury on his leg and was taken to
the hospital. ANI photo

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged at Nehru Colony
police station against the BJP MLA and his unidentified associates. Apart from
invoking the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act, the case was lodged under
Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any
animal of the value of fifty rupees) and 188 (disobedience to order duly
promulgated by public servant) of the IPC. No arrests have been made so far.

When contacted, MLA Ganesh Joshi denied the charge and
said the state government was trying to shift focus from real issues by falsely
implicating him in the case.

“It was a quiet
protest, but still mounted police was deployed to create terror. During the
protest, a horse hit our party worker, 28-year-old Munni, who suffered an
injury on the chest. I snatched a stick from the policeman and tried to stop
the animal from attacking others.

Later, I along with other party workers sat on a
dharna….While we were sitting on the dharna…we came to know that the rear leg
of one of the horse got trapped in the iron-angle on the roadside. While trying
to pulled it out, the horse suffered injuries. I did not beat up the horse,”
said Joshi.

According to Vinod Singh, the Station Officer of Nehru
Colony police station, Joshi and his supporters were seen beating the animal
with sticks.

SP (City) Ajay Singh said they had video footage of
the incident and action would be taken accordingly. He denied the police had
used lathis or horses to disperse the crowd.